Apparatus for arresting launching devices for airplanes



April 16, 1940. R. H. FLEET ET, AL 2,197,299

APPARATUS FOR ARRESTING LAUNCHING DEVICES FOR AIRPLANES Filed NOV. 25, 1936 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 16, 1940 2,197,299 APPARATUS FOR ARRE nnvrcas FOR Reuben n. Fleet, William Application November 25,

2 Claims. (Cl. 244-63) Our invention relates to launching means for airplanes either of the sea or land type.

This application is an improvement upon our co-pending application Serial No. 105,610, flled 6 October 14, 1936.

In the application above referred to the construction and operation of the system is set forth at length, together with the advantages of this of system. It is though unnecessary here to 10 repeat in detail thediscussion in that application. This application is directed to a construction for increasing the safety factors in launching an airplane from a. moving vehicle.

Not only are the brakes automatically applied 15 when the airplane leaves the vehicle, but a supplemental braking is effected by means of arrest- 8 ear cables.

Further, the braking of the .vehicle is under the-control of the pilot in the plane. This con-- 20 trol of the braking feature is of great importance since if anything goes wrong, or if flying speed is not attained in a permissible length of run the pilot can remain on the vehicle and apply the brakes himself to the vehicle.

25 Airplane as used herein broadly includes land airplanes, seaplanes, flying boats, airboats, amphibians and any other heavier-than-air-aircraft. Body element and body unit as used herein broadly includes a land airplane fuselage, a flying to boat airboat or amphibian hull, and the equivalent of a bodyin the case of a flying wing airplane having no external body.

o It is an object of our invention to provide positive means for braking a vehicle supporting an airplane for launching which is powerful in effect,

' sturdy inconstruction and easy to repair and replace.

Another object of our invention is to provide a construction which will permit the pilot to apply the brakes on the vehicle on which the airplane rests for launching.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide such a construction which is positive in operation and simple in construction.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to 0m improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with'the un derstanding that the several'neeessary elements 3 comprising our invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make our invention more, clearly understood, we have shown in the accompanying shown as these are well known. The

PATENT OFFICE STING LASUNCHING Q B. Wheaties. and

M. Inddon, San Diego, Calif.

1936. Serial No. 112,803 7 drawings means for carrying the same into practical 'efiect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the parlicular constructions; which for the p pose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings: v Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away, showing a seaplane mounted on our launching vehicle on rails, the general disposition of the braking system and the controls being 7 shown;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in perspective showing the construction'of our braking linkages;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view in detail of the compressed air storage tank, piping connections and valve;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view partly in section taken through our valve and valve control mech-- anisms;

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line G6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a view taken along the line 7-7 of 2 that is pivoted at 3 on supports 4 carried on top of a car 5. The car 5 is mounted onwheels Swhich rest on rails 1. At the end of the track I is'diagram-- matically illustrated at 8 an arresting gear cable.

The details of the arresting gear. cable and the mechanism for keeping the cable taut are not arresting gear cable isvadapted to be ca ht in arresting gear catch elements 9 mounted at either end of the car 5. These elements 9 are provided with throats III in which the cable is adapted to be engaged, and pivoted latch members II which are raised when the cable enters the throat I II, and fall in place behind the cable after .the cable is at the bottom of the throat I ll. These arresting gear cables which are at the ends of each track of the system provides. safety measure in case the brakes have not fully brought the car, torest. The braking system will be described later. The car 5 is provided with a top I 2 and sheathing l3 which comes partially over the wheels 6- and cuts'down the wind resistance. The car at each end, as indicated at M, isstreamlined to reduce 5 air resistance.

The brakes for the front and rear trucks of the car are of the pneumatic type.. .'1'hesystem at' either end of the car is the same. Compressed air is stored in a tank I! mounted on the cradle 2 and held to the upper part of the cradle 2-by means of brackets l5. Attached to the compressed air tank is a compressed air line ll having a branch line l5 with a pressure gauge l5 mounted therein. At the end of the branch line I5 isa one-way valve 25 which is adapted to be connected withsome suitable source of compressed air near the air port. There is a cut-oi! valve 2| provided in the line ii. The tank I5 is filled through the valve 25 to the proper pres sure, as indicated by the pressure gauge l5.

The line leads to a valve construction 22 from which there is an air outlet line 25 of flexible construction, such as rubber, which is connected by means of a T-fltting 25 to a pressure line 25 which runs to the trucks at either end of the car 5.

At either end oi the car 5 are located braking cylinders 25 which are connected by flexible hose 21 to the line 25. The braking cylinder construction is not shown in detail, and comprises a cylinder with a piston (not shown) connected to a piston rod 25 which carria a bifurcated end element 29 which is pivoted at 35 to an equalizing bar 3| of the braking system. It is to be understood that the system is the same for each end of the car- The equalizing bar 5| is pivoted to links 32 which are pivoted to arms 55 that are mounted for rotation in Supp rts 35 suitably supported by the framework of the truck which carries the wheels 5. Connected to the arms 35 are arms 35 which are pivoted at 25 to links 31.

The links 31 are pivoted at 55 to one end of hell crank levers 35. The center of the bell crank levers is pivoted at 55 to the top of brake shoes 4|. The other arm of the bell crank levers is pivoted at 52 to links 43 which are pivoted at M to links 45. The links 45 are pivoted at to the top of the other brake shoes 51 of the system. .The tops oi! the links 45 are pivoted to support bars 45 carried by the trucks. Also links 45 are provided for supporting the brake shoes II, the links being suspended from support pivots 55.

Upon admission of air through the flexible line 21 the equalizing bars 5| are pushed by the piston (not shown) in the cylinders 25 in a direction to rotate the arms 55 to cause the arms 55 to press against the upper arms of the bell crank levers 25, thus swinging the brake shoes 5| into contact with the surface of the wheels 5. Through the lower arms of the bell crank levers 35 and through linkage 55, brake shoes 41 are also applied to press against their respective wheels 5. In this manner braking is effected both on the front and the rear trucks of the car 5.

Upon release of pressure in the line 25 the brakes are released. In this type oi construction thereis usually a springin the cylinder 25 which returns the parts to their starting position. Retum springs can be used at other locations than in the'cylinder 25.

-We will newv describe the valve mechanism and the valve control.

Referring to Figure 3, and particularly to Figures 4 to 7 inclusive, we have shown the valve casing 22 as comprising a central cylindrical aperture 5| in which is adapted to rotate a valve disk 52 provided with holes 55 and 55. A portion of-thevalve disk 52 iscut away, as indicated at 55, and a limiting stop 55 moimted on the innerwalloftheaperture 5| isadaptedtoiitinto the slot 55 to limit the rotative movement of the valve in either direction.

With the parts oi the valve. inthe; position shown in Figure 7, the hole; 55 communicates with an exhaust exit 5'! formed in the valve ca'se line 25 to the brake cylinders commimicates with a fitting 55 which intum communicates with an aperture 55 which lies directly below the aperture 52 formed in the rotativedisk52. Inthispositionoi-thepartsair imder pressure flows back from the brake cylinders 25 through the valve, into the aperture 5| of the valve and out through hole 55 in the disk 52 and through exhaust 51.

when the valve is rotated so that the stop 55 lies against the other extremity of the slot 55, the hole 55 lies directly over aperture 55 leading to the line 25 to the brake cylinders, and hole 55 lies directly above an inlet aperture 55 formed in the valve casing 2|, to which is connected through a coupling 5| the air inlet pipe II. From the air inlet pipe I! compressed air flows throush aperture 55, through aperture 53 in the, valve disk 52, and through aperture 55 in the'valve disk 52 into an aperture 55, and compressed air is thus introduced through the line 25 into line 25 which sends compressed air to each of the brake cylinders 25.

Our mechanism is so constructed that the rotation of the valve just described can be eflected either under control of the pilot, or when the airplane leaves the cradle 2 and takes to the air. It is to be noted that in the position of the parts shown in Figure 1, the cradle 2 is'resting on a forward support 52. In this position of the parts the airplane is in the no-liit attitude which permits the airplane and the car to pick up speed more readily than in any other position. When fly g speed is obtained, the pilot through the controls rotates the airplane on the cradle 2 so that the cradle 2 rests on the rear support 55 and the airplane takes oil. Provision is made when an airplane takes oil, as will now be described, for the application of the brakes on the car. Likewise it the airplane does not take oil and the pilot desires to stop the car and airplane, this can be effected.

The control mechanism comprises a Bowden wire III which is attached to ailxture "I which is bolted to, or integrally formed with, a connection I52 which-rests on top and is keyed to,

or integrally formed with, the valve disk 52.

The mechanism just described is adapted to rotate in suitable fittings which we have indicated generally at I55. There is a sheathing provided, as indicated at I55, for the Bowden wire.

The top end of the Bowden wire is attached to a shank I55 which carries a pull out member I55. The shank and pull out member are held in place on theBowden wire by suitable fittings, generally indicated at I". The pullout mem- -ber |55hasakey I55 whichfltsinakeyway I55 formed in a guide member Ill.

The guide member "5 is adapted to slide in a cylinder Ill and carries at its upper end a helically toothed pinion H2. The cylinder I is provided with a shoulder "5 which is adapte tolie flush with the lower surface Ill of the body unit or other part of the airplane In order to form a frictionless iit between the cylinder HI and the guide member "5. we have providediorluhricati soilwaste ||5,whichisheld inplaeebymeamoiascrewcaplflmmmtedon thecylinderlll.

Thepulloutmember|55isheldinplacein theguidemember lllbvmeansoiaball III whichis'pressedintoanaperture Ill formed in 25 to the brake cylinders.

reduced in diameter at its the pull out memberili. The ball is held eifect the functions which. will be later described.

The cylinder III is provided extending fitting I2I having an aperture I22 which carries a compression spring I23 which abuts at one end against a helically toothed rack I24 which meshes with the helical teeth on the pinion II2. v

The rack I24 which the spring with a laterally carries an extension I25 over I23 fits. The-extension I25 is end I20, as illustrated in Figure 829 at the end of the laterally extending fitting I2I. The helical pinion H2 is upwardly extending stem I30 to which is secured a cap I 3|. To tension the helical pinion I I2 in the up position, we have wire I00. member I06 which. ball II! in the aperture II8, causes the pull out By reason of the fact that the helical gear I I2 is in mesh with the helical gears of the rack I 24, the gear II2 will be rotated, since the spring I23 valve disk is rotated into a position to admit-air Thus the car 5 is arrested. The-pull out member I00 is pulled out from its position in the guide member III very shortly after the valve disk 52 has been is no longercontact between the pull out meniber I08 and the guide member III.

'From the above it is apparent that the pilot can apply the brakes at will to the vehicle upon provided with an th cradle contacting the forward support.

is not as strong as spring I23,

wire I2'I in the direction ible means tion means and the rotatable valve so as to pull hicle has been provided.

This mechanismvjust described introduces an e we have" shown and described the preferredform' of our inventio we wish it to be t we do not confine ourselves to We claim: 1. A launching System for prising a movable vehicle on tation means and the rotatable valve, said flexconnected between said rotaoperated optionally by the pilot from the airplane and automatically upon separation of the airplane from the vehicle.

2.-A launching system for an airplane comprising a movable vehicle on which the airplane is adapted to be mounted for launching, a source 01' compressed fluid on the vehicle, air-type from said source to the brakes, motion produc- I ing means carried by the airplane adapted to be moved relative to the airplane durin the beginning of separation of the motion producing means to the valve means, said transmitting means being connected between the motion producing means and the valve means w haircut;

so as to pull away iromsuch connection after of iahe rotation mean whereby the air-type a separation or the airplane and vehicle beyond brakes on the vehicle may be operated optionally that separation necessary for said motion proeby the pilot from the airplane and automatically 'dueing means to operate the valve means, conupon separation 01 the airplane from the vehicle. trol means operable by the pilot of the airplane REUBEN H. FLEET.

for independently causing said relatiye move- WILLIAM B. WHEATLEY. ment of the motion producing means', rotation ISAAC M. LADDON. 

